R.I. dancer explores the body and soul of ballet / Photos

Monday

Dec 16, 2013 at 12:01 AM

In talking about the spirituality of ballet with Jennifer Ricci of Johnston, who has been dancing since age 4, she relates the story of two fellow members of Festival Ballet Providence. In a recent performance...

By Rita Watson

In talking about the spirituality of ballet with Jennifer Ricci of Johnston, who has been dancing since age 4, she relates the story of two fellow members of Festival Ballet Providence.

In a recent performance of “The Pieta,” husband and wife Mindaugas Bauzys and Vilia Putrius portrayed the Michelangelo sculpture of the Virgin Mary and the lifeless Christ. As the mother held up her son’s arm, which flopped limply when she touched his face, the audience wept.

“It is that kind of spiritual connection between two bodies on stage that, to me, is so breathtaking,” Ricci said.

“Practicing in quiet or on stage — when you are working as one with your partner, even for me as a dancer to see how they move together as one soul, one person matching each other’s movements — it is unbelievable. They have a connection because they are married. You can feel the intensity through their emotion. For me, that is inspiration.”

Since she works with so many different partners, Ricci must find ways to connect with each of them.

“It pretty much happens while you are performing, even during a rehearsal before the actual stage production,” she said, “because by that point, you forget who is watching and you take cues from within.”

For Ricci, ballet happened almost by accident. She kept dislocating her shoulder and a physician suggested gymnastics to give her strength. She’s now been with Festival Ballet Providence for more than 20 years.

Until 10 years ago, Ricci danced with her sister Jaclyn, who had many health problems. Dancing always helped to heal her mind and soul, Ricci said.

“My sister was and always has been my inspiration and when she stopped dancing, I felt as if I had lost a part of my soul,” she said.

One of Ricci’s favorite roles is Arabian from “The Nutcracker,” because of the passion and emotions it brings out in her.

“Dancing that role is something I had dreamed of since age 17 and each time I dance, I bring different styles and different emotions to the part, and it just consumes me.”

Ricci, a graduate of Rhode Island College, calls herself an actress who is also a dancer.

“The most difficult role that I ever performed was Giselle — it is a very controlled role with a lot of dancing. It is beautiful to watch and once you dance it you understand more about the character,” she said. “But for me, the most exciting role, which is my personality, is that of Princess Zobeide from the ‘Scheherazade’ — it is exotic, drama, and I love dramatic roles, whether it is passionate or you want to strangle someone — I like the acting as opposed to straight contemporary pieces that just show lines without telling a story.”

Once, when trying to perform a piece called “In Passing,” she got frustrated because she wanted to make the performance stand out.

Then her director said: “You do it with your eyes.”

“And whatever happened in the end, that feeling inside that I had to conjure up worked,” Ricci said. “He said it was the best he has ever seen performed. And I felt as if I had to perform as if I was almost angry inside so as not to be too melodramatic. But I am. That’s because I’m Italian.”